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It's taken a few days but I can now look forward to the New Year. Most of the back-log of recent work is complete, or at least under control.

So it's time to look forward to the New Year and I'm really optimistic as last year was my busiest ever. It was also the most varied I've had so far... and you know what they say variety is the spice of life :-)

My diary is already looking good and the important 'variety' factor is definitely there.

If you make even occasional visits to this blog you will know that I consider it a rare privilege to be able to earn my living doing exactly what I enjoy..... and I have no boss to answer to. (Hope the missus doesn't read this!)

This New Year has already started on a high with my pics being featured in a leading UK Magazine Powerboat & Rib. The bar has been set high with this three page spread featuring the 2014 3A/3B World Powerboat Championships. Can other National publications follow? The target is set!

However there is one certainty. Once again I will be working many more hours than when I had a 'proper job' - and I will enjoy (nearly) every minute.

This just leaves the mandatory New Years resolution: I really must get myself another photoshoot in a helicopter ;-)

Hello 2015, bring it on :-)

I wonder what are you getting for Christmas?

....read on to find out what I received in my early Xmas sack!

But first, can I tell you that I am having to keep quite a few secrets at the moment as I know (shhhhh) what dozens of you are about to receive under your Christmas tree. (Hint) I hope you have a little space on the wall above the fireplace ;-)

This festive period has been my busiest yet for picture sales with Framed Montages and Canvases proving to be extremely popular.

Christmas is almost like a 'harvest-time' for me as the twelve months of cultivating interest in my photography pays off. It also illustrates very well just how hard-working and consistent you have to be to nurture a large and loyal following. For this festive season I have been selling pics from across the whole genre of my work... everything from Elevated Panoramic shots to Sports, Racing and Band pics.

I'm very, very lucky that I've established myself as a photographer who specialises in the subjects that I really love... namely Motorsport and Music performance and it is incredible how many people also share the same love. I know there are many other photographers who pursue these same interests and regularly visit my galleries to comment on and critique my work. Maybe even pick up a few tips? ;-)

But what really amazes me is how many people are simply interested in viewing my picture galleries. The total number of picture views is amazing and I thank all the regular visitors.

So now I had better reveal what I have just received as an early Christmas present. The pressie takes the form of my web-site total views smashing through another mile-stone number.

The total views of this web-site have just topped 8,000,000, EIGHT MILLION, WOW!

This new record comes after just four years from the very first upload. The 'year one' views were recorded at 1,000,000 and have consistently grown up to today's annual count of around 2,500,000!

As the new year approaches I remain encouraged by the interest in my work and my New Years resolution is to work even harder at what I love.... oh, and to drink much more Real Ale!

.....consistent, reliable and predictable, that's me :-)

Thanks for your continued support. Have a very Happy Christmas and a fun New Year!

You can read about some of the previous 'mile-stones' here:
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT SOME OF THE PREVIOUS MILE-STONES

Andrew

It was a Saturday of fun and emotion for me...

My short-list of photoshoots included:

1: Photograph Round 5 of the Motocross Championship.
2: Photograph the Charybdis wreath laying service at sea.
3: Photograph Round 9 of the Sand Racing Championship.

I love photographing Motorsport and you will see that my box was ticked by the weekends Moto-X & Sandracing.

But my most rewarding shoot of the weekend only took around an hour but the memories will last me a lifetime.

I had the privilege of spending a few moments in the company of the five surviving seamen from HMS Charybdis and HMS Limbourne when they attended a 'Service at Sea' with a wreath laying from the RNLB Daniel L Gibson. These ninety year old gentlemen experienced the horror of being torpedoed then finding themselves clinging to life-rafts and debris not knowing if they would ever be rescued. Many of their comrades didn't survive.

None of us can imagine what this was like but these men have carried that trauma with them all their lives. The emotion was evident as they shared their moments of remembrance.

The survivors families who were aboard the Travel Trident were equaly touched by the heartfelt tribute. I find it impossible to put into words how I felt watching these ageing sailors recalling the memories from so long ago.

However one single short sentence that I was told after the ceremony sums up what happened that night - simply and with great honesty...

'There wasn't a single atheist amongst us on that night'

May we never forget that our opportunities to have fun and enjoy our lives are owed to the many who gave their lives and suffered hardship for our freedom.
VIEW A SMALL GALLERY FEATURING PICTURES OF THE SERVICE AT SEA

I've now added a new picture gallery with the first edit of the Moto-X Championship here:

VIEW THE LATEST MOTOCROSS GALLERY

• A4 Standard Print
  
• Digital 7" x 5"
  
• A5 Standard Print
  
• Digital 1024 Pixel for Internet
  
• A4 Bevel Mounted Print
  
• A4 Bevel Mounted & Framed Print
  
• A3 Bevel Mounted & Framed Print
  
• A2 Framed Custom Designed Montage
  
• 16" x 24" Canvas Print
  
• A2 Standard Print
  

I've spent a little time analysing my picture sales and the list shows the top ten by number of sales.

This sort of in-depth look at where a business is succeeding or failing in its provision of services is an important part of running any company, big or small.... and I definitely qualify as the later!

I'm a one-man-band and proud of this with no ambition to change things. I've clearly lost my youthful drive and ambition :-(

In a 'previous life' I was a director of a fairly large (by Guernsey standards) retail business. I was responsible for the development of extra retail areas which offered the opportunity to extend product ranges. I also spent many, many hours a week analysing the sales performance and stock control.

I guess that when you develop a 'habit' over a period of 35 years it is a little difficult to break it. So this is how I found myself with a couple of hours to spare and a thirst for analysing my current source of income.

My business model is built around the desire to offer the very highest quality of service and output... from capture to the supply of the final print. You will note that I say 'print', not digital file! I'm a bit old fashioned about this and, whilst I do sell thousands of digital files, I firmly believe a quality print takes a lot of beating

It was this desire to supply the very best prints that led me to purchase the Epson 4800 printer. All my prints are produced 'in house' where I have total control of the processing and I love the quality that this pigment printer produces.

I also hand cut the board mounts that have proved to be incredibly popular. They really protect and display a print so much better than a basic un-mounted one.

Of course, having the mounted print framed as well really does the 'proper job'. I encourage you to consider just one framed and mounted print instead of perhaps buying three basic prints. The result is so much more special! Again the framing is done 'in house'.

So, as I said at the start, the intention of my analysis was to give me actual figures of my picture sales... and the results were almost exactly what I expected. So was it a waste of time then? No, not at all. As I mentioned it is always important to keep on top of new developments and then make changes in your business model.

And I have come to one conclusion after studying the figures and I will be responding to it during the next few months.

Basically it is the observation that most sales are for the cheaper options. Of course they are. I'm hardly surprised - neither are you, I guess!

But as a photographer it is a little disappointing. I really enjoy seeing my pictures displayed in the best way. An old creased and tattered print at the bottom of a draw isn't how I intended my work to end up.

So my aim for the future is to encourage, at every opportunity, the sales of the larger prints and particularly the mounted prints... or better yet the framed prints. I'm certain that my customers will have far greater satisfaction with their purchase... and the 'feel good' factor of their purchase will last for a lot longer. That has to make good business sense.

This doesn't herald a signal that I'm getting greedy or trying to make my fortune (some chance!).

No, I want to see that my customers are satisfied and enjoying my work in the most presentable way.

You have been warned.... The hard-sell starts here!
TAKE A LOOK AT THE VARIOUS PRINT OPTIONS AVAILABLE... BUY BIG, BUY FRAMED!

On a glorious sunny August afternoon there was a really good turn-out of supporters for the latest Guernsey Football Club game in the Isthmian League Division One South Football Championship.

Whitstable Town were the visiting team at Footes Lane and were positioned a few places above Guernsey in the league. A tight match was to be expected and that is what the crowd was treated to!

In fact it might be argued that the crowd played a part in the 2-2 draw after Guernsey dropped behind after a first half penalty and then a second goal.

The spectators had given up on the chance to spend the afternoon on the beach or at any one of several other events that were taking place on this summers day so they didn't intend to watch their side loose a game.

The GFC team kept up their efforts to pull back the couple of goals but seemed to lack a little momentum until Glyn Dyer scored with a spectacular long range shot with ten minutes to go. This raised the noise level from the crowd and seemed to spur on the team to a quick second goal - another long-range effort, this time by Craig Young. The resulting draw at 2-2 was judged about right on the run of play.

There was a still a buzz going through the crowd as they left Footes Lane as if in the knowledge that they had played their part in the result!

Guernsey FC is certainly well supported... let's hope the fans are rewarded by another successful season.

I've added a Gallery of pictures featuring some of the action:
VIEW PICS OF GUERNSEY FC v WHITSTABLE TOWN FOOTBALL

Welcome to my office.... well technically maybe this wasn't my office but it sure was my workplace for a few hours!

How good is that! The only air-con was the natural kind and the only glass that I was looking through was a 200 - 400mm Nikon lens, nice.

Cue the envy and loathing... I can handle that :-)

If it makes it any easier for you, I can promise that I know how lucky I am to be able to call this sort of photography my full-time (nearly proper) job.

Of course you only get to see the end results of my work. You don't see how long I actually spend in a tiny office staring at two screens.

But I'm not going to show you that side of the job. It'll spoil the illusion!!

However it's quite safe to say that (unfortunately) my job doesn't consist of endless sun, sea and natural air-conditioning :-(

Just to get back to the illusion though... pics from my office are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF POWERBOAT RACE_8

VIEW PICS OF THE BRITISH SHOWJUMPING GUERNSEY DERBY
I am quite amazed how busy this photography 'one man band' actually is!

I'm not sure why this should be as there are more than enough photographers competing for the same business. But the fact is that I am continually booked and trying to keep up with my work. The photography I am commissioned for is amazing in its variety and I have a couple of really exciting new projects on the go... more about them later.

It is the Commercial 'Tallpictures' business that is the main side (read income) of my photography. However I don't often add pictures of this work due to the private nature of photographing property. A taster for that side of my work can be viewed here:
VIEW THE TALLPICTURES GALLERIES

This web-site mostly presents the other sides of my work - mainly all forms of Sports Photography and Festival/Gig photography.

It is these areas of work that I have been catching up with and a few more picture galleries have been added.

These small galleries feature a few pics of the recent Channel Islands Golf Championship Finals, the Full Boar Rifle Inter-insula and the British Showjumping Guernsey Derby at Chemin le Roi.

Follow the links to view the pics:

VIEW PICS OF THE FULL BOAR RIFLE INTER-INSULA

VIEW PICS OF THE CHANNEL ISLANDS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

I spent a short time on Sunday in the very pleasant surroundings of the Talbot Valley whilst photographing the first stage of the Velo Club's annual Mountain Bike 'Tour of Guernsey'.

I had been asked to cover this stage by the Guernsey Press and found that the competition was just as competitive as I remember!

There was a good field of over fifty riders who started what would be a week of varied courses around the island. By the final day the riders will have faced a variety of challenges and their stamina will have been well tested.

A small gallery of pictures has been added to this web-site. Take a look here:
VIEW PICS OF THE 2014 TOUR OF GUERNSEY

That was quite a slog.

I attended the Full Boar Lock-In 3 at the weekend. There was a great atmosphere in the large hall at Beau Sejour. The whole show had been enhanced for 2014 with impressive lighting and a superb sound system.

The action in the ring was fast moving, the organisation was silky smooth.

With a total of twelve Bouts to photograph the work-load has been pretty intense to get everything on-line... but the job is now a good'n!

I've added Bouts 7 - 12 and an additional Gallery devoted to showcasing some of the atmosphere.

So please take a look at my pics. Also please remember that they are NOT free to copy.

I have spent many hours working on the Galleries - this is my full-time job and I have beer to buy!

Prices start from just £4. That's got to be a bargain, hasn't it?
CLICK HERE TO CHECK-OUT THE VARIOUS OPTIONS TO BUY PICS

View all the Galleries here:
VIEW THE COMPLETED LOCK-IN 3 GALLERIES

Well I guess that when you have spent months training for a fight and then you have to find the strength of character to finally step into a Cage, there has to be a reward at the end of the road?

The Sport of fighting (I use the term to include all genres of combat), must go back to the beginning of mankind. It must be a core factor that has taken the survival of our species forward to this time.

Nowadays it is also without question regarded as a controversial Sport by some.

I don't intend to start a debate on the rights and wrongs of this but can I have a moment to make my own observation... it is my Blog after all :-)

I've never been a fighter myself. If you take a look at me this will not surprise you. However I did have a couple of brawls as a schoolboy and a couple more in the teenage years. The later ones where fuelled by Vodka and girls featured in there somewhere too (if I remember correctly)!

What I am saying is that, however calm a person is, an occasional conflict seems to be part of growing up and establishing a 'pecking order'.

I'm not saying that it is right - I am saying that you will not change what is established over countless Millennia.

So what is my point?

Well if you accept what I have said, and I don't think it can be argued with, it remains a fact that men (and a few women) feel the need to exercise their 'primeval' instinct sometimes.

Given that fact we have to applaud that 'modern man' can vent this natural behaviour in a controlled, friendly and entertaining environment. This is what was on offer at the third Lock-In Guernsey event organised by The Full Boar Motorcycle Club at Beau Sejour last Saturday.

I think I can be a fair judge of the behaviour and atmosphere which permeated through-out the event... after all I probably spent more time in the Cage than any of the fighters (OK I was actually only hanging over the top taking pics)!

But the point I make is that whilst the fighting was as tough as you could wish to see there was NO aggravation between opponents, NO vicious behaviour just a respect between fighters that comes from the mutual understanding of a shared Sport and appreciation that anyone who was brave enough to step inside the cage, wait for the door to be slammed shut and then stand toe-to-toe with an opponent was a winner before the Bout even started.

But would we (the audience) have the same interest if there wasn't a winner? Maybe you would like to comment on that point? And surely a winner needs to be rewarded?

Of course they do. So to answer my question in the title of this Blog.

The winner is the one who gets the Girls! Nothing changes :-)

Now I begin to get what it is all about ;-)

The first six Bouts are now featured in my Gallery:
VIEW THE FIRST LOCK-IN 2014 GALLERIES

The Full Boar Motorcycle Club raised their standards to a new high on Saturday.

The third Lock-In Guernsey Cage Fighting night went down in a noisy, excited frenzy of non-stop action at Beau Sejour.

I was ring-side in the 'hot-spot'... up a ladder leaning into the arena trying to follow the fast action. The challenge to a photgrapher is steep, but not quite as steep as the ladder!!

You have to hang on with a leg wrapped around to prevent yourself being knocked off the tiny perch when two fighters clatter into the wire mesh ring. I think a third hand would be useful... maybe I can tempt one of the Ring Girls to hold me tight next year?

With all twelve fights photographed I have a tidy pile of pics to edit. As this will take several days I have added a tiny preview as a taster of things to come.

Keep a check on this site during the next few days:
VIEW A SMALL PREVIEW OF LOCK-IN 3

The Full Boar Motorcycle Club are about to present LOCK-IN-3...

Following the previous two Lock-In's we know what we are about to receive, but this year is promised as being even bigger and better!

Everything is in place. The Cage is built, the uprated lighting is plugged in and the impressive sound system is connected to the Amps.

We can look forward to twelve bouts including White Collar Boxing, Kick Boxing, Muay Thai & MMA Cage Fighting.

I was at the weigh-in and can confirm the fighters are also ready for action.

I'd like to be able to encourage you to get up to Beau Sejour tomorrow night but it is pointless... it's a MASSIVE sell-out! UPDATE: a few tickets are still available... Doors open at 5.30, fights start at 7.00!

I'll be ring-side hanging over the top of the Cage capturing all the action so check back next week to see what you missed, you'll be sorry!
THE LOCK-IN 2014 FIGHTERS WEIGH-IN

Thanks for the response to my previous Blog. There has been some really interesting feedback.
READ THE ORIGINAL BLOG HERE

However I think I should qualify what I originally said. Having re-read the post I feel that it can be interpreted as a put-down to hobbiest photogs.

This was certainly not the intention. I strongly believe that many of the most creative and talented photogs are amateurs. They thrive on their passion for the subject and revel in the freedom of shooting for their own pleasure. The quality of their results prove my point.

In contrast, there is an inevitable constraint that comes with professional photography. This comes with tight deadlines, tight briefs (not the underwear kind) and the need to guarantee the reliable completion of an assignment for a client. I know my own work was more varied before I needed to work within the limits of a brief.

Getting back to the intent in my original Blog. It was aimed more as a question and observation of the changes and added pressures that fall on a pro 'tog trying to work in this modern era.

Now that thought could open another completely new debate.

The question: Has the fast move to Digital photography and the proliferation of camera phones etc. helped move things forward for Professional photographers?

I'll start the ball rolling by stating that there is no way I would like to return to the 'good old days of film and the darkroom'.

So it seems that I can't have things both ways, can I?

Please feel free to pull my statements to pieces, I love a debate.

Do you know what the best compliment you can pay to a Motor Sport photographer is?

Maybe an even greater compliment than parting with your hard earned cash to actually buy a picture!

Well let me help you. My latest updates to the Hillclimb and Karting galleries have generated quite a number of kind comments regarding my 'style' of Motorsport photography. I have been encouraged by this interest and I thank you.

It's now quite a challenge for anyone wanting to make any sort of income from photographing Motorsport. Perhaps the same can be said about all forms of photography? I also specialize in live music and festival photography and that discipline is just as challenging to make money at.

Modern technology has given anyone with a few 'bob' to spend (only people of my era - and British - will understand that quote) the opportunity to capture endless numbers of digital pictures at almost no cost.

Digital photography allows a photog to fire away almost unlimited shots and then 'cherry pick' the successes. Call me old fashioned, which at fifty-nine I probably am, but I just don't 'get' this style of photography. I'm not sure that photographing action 'machine-gun' style proves that a photographer has any level of skill... apart from in editing, and even there, a photographer who shoots into the hundreds and thousands probably reveals that they have little sense of 'timing and composition'.

Add into this the capability of everyone to upload endless free pictures to Facebook and other free online galleries and you can see how this overload of images limits the ability of a Professional photographer to survive (meaning sell) his work. Who wants to pay for a pic when something similar is available for free?

This is a massive challenge to many professional photographers and is no different in 'little old Guernsey' than anywhere else in the world!

With the UK Motorsport Clubs and MSA seemingly relaxing some of their requirements to gain access to the Track/Hill/Beach this opens the opportunity for everyone to start taking pics track-side.

So where does this leave the professional photographer? Well a pro has to 'see' what the amateur doesn't. A Pro has to take full advantage of any access that they may still be able to gain to the track-side. A Pro must also work endlessly... meaning long hours. My experience is that hard work and persistence usually have to come before any form of success. That's a shame isn't it, but true!

Persistence, reliability, sticking to the job in uncomfortable situations and always trying to learn from your 'fails', mistakes and 'missed action' must always be part of your work ethic.

Also finding new angles to cover an assignment are important defining differences between a Pro and an Amateur photographer.

This takes me back to my original point and again I thank those who have contacted me to say that my work goes beyond simply taking pics of crashes and easy panning shots.

When a racer says that he can gather useful information about his set-up from looking at how his car is 'working' through a corner or how their racing line could be 'tweaked' after studying my work it makes me feel that I have added to and become a part of the racing scene. I am capturing real racing action. I'm not just cherry-picking the unfortunate racing 'offs'!

My chosen profession might not qualify as a 'proper job' (please don't tell my missus) but when I leave the house to go to 'work' it really thrills me and I wouldn't change a thing, despite the challenges.

This makes me a very happy chappie :-)

UPDATE:
Having considered this Blog again and taking into account the fantastic feedback I have had I've added a few more thoughts... A FEW MORE THOUGHTS... THE DEBATE GOES ON

The last week has been quite a blur. I have chased around to give coverage to so many events.

It has been very enjoyable. However I guess that most people (including 'casual' photographers) have little concept of how long the full processes take from the actual 'capture' of an image to the end result of having it published in Magazines, Newspapers and this Web-site. When all aspects are taken into account it is easy to see where the time goes.

You start by planning ahead. I have contacts with business clients and picture editors. Their requirements are noted and the day is planned. Simples, eh!

Then it is a case of keeping to the timetable hoping that everything runs on time. Having completed the days shoot the edits can start. Priority has to go to the print deadline work. This means a dash back to the office and a quick edit through maybe hundreds of shots to select the required pics. These have to fit the brief. Maybe specific action or subjects, upright or landscape format, close crop or wide view. All pics then have to be tagged with relevant details.

Often the first edit allows you only twenty minutes or so. You learn to work fast. All the time avoiding getting too many sandwich crumbs in the keyboard as you as you multi-task. Not bad for a man, eh!

Once the immediate edits are complete and e-mailed to the picture desks/client I turn the attention to the web-site updates. Once again speed is of the essence and the efforts taken to capture the best image 'in camera' will pay off as this greatly reduces the edit and processing time.

Next there is more captioning of pics. Then the uploading. Followed by the vital backing up and detailed cataloguing of all the days work. Why bother taking a picture if you can't find it in a few clicks when required?

In the analysis of this work-flow it is clear that the actual capturing of an image probably only takes twenty-five percent of the total time.

All the above processes have been in action during last week's work and I'm relieved to say that another job 'bites the dust' (sand).....

The latest update is for the GMC&CC Sand Race Championship. Pictures are now on-line:
VIEW PICS OF SAND RACING - RACE-2

A Bank Holiday weekend is looked forward to by most people as a time to relax, chill-out a bit and basically enjoy time away from work.

Well it couldn't be more different for me!

But don't feel too guilty about this. I love my job. It actually consists of what I would choose to do on my day off anyway! That makes me very lucky :-)

The only down-side is that I have to pack a huge amount into a very short time. There isn't much time to sleep when there are so many deadlines to meet.

To give you some idea how I've chased around for the last few days, here goes...

Good Friday:
Web site updates were first on the list. Then there were Guernsey Press photo jobs including the GIAAC 10km Road Run at Grande Rocque and a big Guernsey Basketball League game at Beau Sejour. All pics had to be edited, captioned and submitted to a short deadline.

Saturday:
First it was another update to this web site then off to the first GMC&CC Sand Race meeting of 2014 on Vazon beach. This was followed by another edit GP submissions and a web site update. Then it was time to head off to the The Fermain Tavern for the launch of Last of the Light Brigade's new album. There were three bands on the bill so that was more picture taking. The line-up was fantastic and consisted of Coastal Fire Department, Robert J Hunter and his Band and the boys from Last of the Light Brigade.
Home-time meant another quick edit and a 2am finish!

Sunday:
OK, I'll admit that I did take a little time out for Easter celebrations with my family... noisy bunch too. That comes from now having two grandchildren and a 'grand dog' (although I think my own three adult children were the loudest of the lot!) Next was an unusual Sunday photoshoot of a gig. Again it was at The Tav. This was the first of three #triplestoked weekends. If the remaining two can match the atmosphere and quality of last Sunday's line-up we are in for more treats!
The quality of performance, sound and lighting was 'top-notch' and a real pleasure to photograph. The line-up consisted of Buffalo Huddlestone, The Recks and visiting UK head liners YesSirBoss. Another late return home still allowed time for a quick edit and another 2am finish!

Easter Monday:
What felt like a very early start (9am... very rock 'n roll, eh!) for the first Hill Climb of 2014. Thankfully it stayed dry and it was great to be back 'track-side' capturing the action. There was no lunch break this year so I was tired and hungry by the time I got home ready to relax. But, hey, no chance! It was back to the editing as I had more Guernsey Press pics to submit and I then made a start on the edit for this web site. Needless to say it was another late finish :-(

So there you have it. I hope you enjoyed your casual weekend?

The pay-off for me is that the picture orders are already flowing in. And the best part? When you are back at your desk in the week I'll be out walking with the missus, maybe having a lunch or two at the Fleur du Jardin.

Then I'm sure I'll find time for a few beers at my 'town office', The Cock & Bull :-)

Like I always say, I love my job!

So far I Have added new Galleries for the GIAAC 10km Road Run, the Panthers v Le Mont Saint Basketball, GMC&CC Sandracing and the GMC&CC Hill Climb.

Pics of all six Bands will follow shortly.
VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC HILL CLIMB
VIEW PICS OF THE GMC&CC SAND RACING
VIEW PICS OF THE GIAAC 10km ROAD RACE
VIEW PICS OF PANTHERS v LE MONT SAINT BASKETBALL

Last Sunday was another special milestone for this web site.

It has become a tradition that I post a short Blog to celebrate these milestones as they pass... so I will continue this practice:-)

The occasion worth marking is the passing of another 1,000,000 viewings. This takes the total views past the 6,000,000... yes SIX MILLION!

The latest million views took about six months. This seems to be the established average now the web site has settled down into a pattern. The next six months will probably show an increase of one and a half million if past behaviour is repeated. The summertime is busier for me.

The continued interest in my pics is really appreciated. I'm sure that few people will understand how much work goes on behind the scenes - that is the work after the short process of actually taking photographs - to make the regular Gallery updates that keep people coming back to look at my work.

The reward for me is way more than the small income from selling pics. I have enjoyed the appreciation given from the people I photograph. I also know that I am privileged to be able to commit so much time to what started out as just a hobby.

Each time I sit down and consider what to write to mark the extra Million I think back over the last few months. This made me recall a small order for a few digital pics, just last week. There was nothing particularly significant with this order. It certainly only paid for a couple of beers! But, the interesting thing was that the order was for a few pics that I took way back in 2009. That's five years ago!

I've always wondered how someone can wait for so long to order a picture. How do they even remember (or find) the pic after such a long time?

I tell myself that maybe the pictures captured a special moment in the subjects life. The purchaser might have seen the image when it was first added to the Galleries and it made enough impression to be remembered.

Maybe buying a copy of the picture, after all this time, will help them recall and share that moment with others for many years to come?

If I'm right that a picture can mean so much to a person, maybe I really do have the best job in the world?

Check the links below to read previous Milestone Blogs:
CLICK HERE TO READ PREVIOUS MILESTONE BLOGS

Possibly making a new record for brevity (when judged by the few words), this blog announces the addition of a Gallery featuring the ICG Grant Thorton Indoor Cricket Championship...
PICS OF THE GRANT THORTON INDOOR CRICKET CHAMPIONSHIP

The weekend has seen me testing the latest addition to my kit bag in the form of the new NIKON D4S.

This recent update to the NIKON D4 only seems to offer a small selection of fairly minor tweaks. This leads us to the question 'is it worth the upgrade?'

Only time will tell. It will take a few months working in the areas that I specialise to convince me that the new purchase is justified! However I've never been disappointed with the NIKON updates so far. There are always the negative comments made on the Photography Forums by people who expect more. But I think they miss the point. Todays cameras offer amazing quality - big improvements cannot be expected with every new update.

I am happy if there are measurable improvements in the quality of capture in the genre of photography I work... namely fast moving sports, motorsport and 'live performance' photography - mostly in the low level and contrasting light that gigs & festivals offer.

Anyone who regularly pops in to read this blog should know that I am a committed NIKON user. I've never doubted that Canon (as the only serious rival producing 'full spec' professional cameras) can equal, better or improve on the equivalents in the NIKON range. But it's never bothered me which brand takes a temporary lead in the race to perfection. My own work still falls short of that 'perfect' goal so any of the cameras should serve me perfectly well :-)

What I do look for though is reliability, ease of use and the familiarity of a camera that is 'tuned into' my particular style of work. Nikon has provided these things for me over many years.

So now the big question is 'Why did I feel it was necessary to upgrade to the D4S' when I already shoot with a D4, a D3S and a D3?'

I don't have a fully justified answer to that!

One way I look at it is that I am always trying to gain a small advantage over my competitors in the industry. New technology can help with this... a little. Also, if you are a working professional photographer and you factor in the likelihood that you will upgrade your kit at some time in the future then jumping into the latest technology at the earliest opportunity makes sense, at least to me. It means that I gain that technological advantage as soon as it arrives!

The update schedule that NIKON seems to follow also works well within a business plan. The new cameras arrive at approximately two year gaps. This offers a chance to 'retire' old cameras after four years of heavy use - assuming that you always require at least two reliable bodies at any time. No Pro would consider just having a single body with no backup.

Of course, if I'm honest, maybe the real reason I have flexed the Credit Card is that I'm just a boy... and boys like new toys, right?

So far I have avoided answering the question that any NIKON follower is probably wondering. 'How good is the new NIKON D4S?'

Well, my early impression is that it is fantastic for my type of photography... but so are the D4, D3S and D3!! Early use seems to confirm that the focusing performance and low light quality are indeed a step up from the older bodies, but it is far too soon to try and quantify this.

Maybe the real answer is actually unimportant!

The fact is that any Pro grade body will more than reach the level of quality needed by almost all photographers. Maybe this whole question and answer thing is a complete waste of time? Let me know what you think.

Some of the first pics I shot with the D4S are now on-line:
VIEW THE FIRST KARTING PICS TAKEN WITH THE NIKON D4S
VIEW PICS OF NETBALL CAPTURED BY NIKON D4S AT ISO 3,200

Last Sunday I spent the afternoon at Beau Sejour photographing Netball and a superb 39-24 win by the Guernsey Panthers over Bize Jets.

Guernsey Panthers win followed Saturday evenings match which had seen Brize Jets take a win by 32-24.

The Panthers played a strong game for the second match and deserved to gain the upper hand.

Photographing the Netball appears in my diary only a few times each season but I have to say that it is great fun to capture. There are real challenges to overcome as the low light levels always seem to make it harder. The matches are usually outside under flood lights or inside the main Sports Hall at Beau Sejour.

Netball is a very fast game with the rules requiring quick passing of the ball. This leaves very little time to grab a shot and perhaps even harder to follow the action through a long lens. I find that it takes several minutes just to 'dial into' the speed of movements. I'll look forward to a return visit to the court-side and the chance to improve my sports photography skills further...

I have now added a small gallery of pics from the game:
VIEW GUERNSEY PANTHERS v BRIZE JETS NETBALL PICS